South, South WestTexas Musuems you'd recommend...

[Tom H]

One of our members, flight engineer for 35 years with the RCAF, is going to be in South West Texas the back 1/2 of December and has asked me to find out what aviation museums he should visit. He is also into old cars so recommendations there would be great too.

He doesn't mind driving 3-4hrs or even overnighting if its a real worthwhile place to see.

Recommendations?

Thanks Tom

[JohnB]

Define "Southwest texas"
Where is he staying so we'll have an idea about the 3-4 hours radius?

And remember, in West Texas, 3-4 hours is "...around the corner."

[Tom H]

Hi JohnB

For the life of me I cannot remember the name of where he is going but it is about mid way down the pan handle in the very South West.

That said he will drive a long way for a good museum...aviation or automotive.

Yeah I get the 3-4hrs around the corner...its the same here, we pop down to Calgary for coffee
(by car) and think nothing of it at -20.

Thanks

Tom

[Ztex]

Midway down the panhandle...is Lubbock. Not too far from Midland. CAF is there. The Texas Air Museum in Slayton just south east of Lubbock. There is the Silent Wings Museum (WWII Gliders) at the Lubbock airport.

Not much else out that way.

It's two hours between Lubbock and Midland....

Lubbock is "only" 5-6 hours from the DFW area...lots to see around here.

[Tulio]

There is also that "Hangar xx" (25?) [Sorry, don't remember the name right now] at Big Spring.

Saludos,


Tulio

[CAPFlyer]

To echo Zane -

Close to Lubbock is Midland with the American Airpower Heritage Museum that can be visited during the week. Down the road from Midland is Abilene where you can see Dyess AFB's little air park & museum out front of the gate (see - http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/LocationDos ... erial=3696 ).

If he has time, head into Dallas/Fort Worth and see the Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth, Cavanaugh Flight Museum at Addison, and Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field during the week; and the CAF's D/FW Wing and Cold War Air Museum at Lancaster on Saturday.

If he wants to fly into Dallas instead of drive, Southwest has good rates usually during the week from Lubbock and Midland, even on short notice.

Also, on Hangar whatever at Big Spring, it had really limited hours of operation when I went by a couple hours ago, even on the weekend, so unless someone knows their hours and can confirm, I wouldn't recommend him just "swinging by" unless he's going from Midland to Abilene or something like that where he's not going to loose the day if they're not open.

[steve dickey]

http://www.hangar25airmuseum.com/main/about_us.asp

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hangar-25-Air-Museum/169080189279

[Clifford Bossie]

Not being what constitutes South West Texas I will add my local museum: War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa, NM. It is just a couple of miles west of El Paso.

[maradamx3]

Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg.

[Pat Carry]

http://aerialvisuals.ca/Locator.php

[JohnB]

The closest large collection to Lubbock would be Dyess AFB, in Abilene.
Call Dyess Public Affairs (325)696-2161 and they should be able to give you the visitor's center number or perhaps set up something special.
By special arrangement you should be able to go on base and look at the Linear Airpark.
Possibly the nicest airpark in the Air Force (layout, not necessarily aircraft, though they're nice)...and a great collection:
B-1, 2 C-130s (one early model), B-17,47,52, C-47,97, Caribou, KC-135, T-6, F-86,89,100,101,104,105, etc.
Pretty standard fare for USAF base collection, but they might be interesting for a Canadian.


You'll also drive near Snyder, there are the static jet warbirds there, and of course, don't forget CAF HQ at Midland.

[Pat Carry]

Although not warbird related, the biggest attraction in Texas is the Alamo. We were there a year ago and found the Alamo to be pretty darn awesome. Also the Riverwalk in San Antonio is very unique.

[the330thbg]

Although not warbird related, the biggest attraction in Texas is the Alamo. We were there a year ago and found the Alamo to be pretty darn awesome. Also the Riverwalk in San Antonio is very unique.

Did you find any of the reported 'buried' Spitfires?

[Tom H]

Thanks everyone I know Deuce will appreciate it.

Tom

[Pat Carry]

Although not warbird related, the biggest attraction in Texas is the Alamo. We were there a year ago and found the Alamo to be pretty darn awesome. Also the Riverwalk in San Antonio is very unique.

Did you find any of the reported 'buried' Spitfires?

I forgot to put the metal detector in my suitcase.